Zenak by George S. Pappas Page A

broadsword at Tabilo. And all Tabilo could do was keep up his defense. Then Tabilo’s mark got the better of Gam and forced Gam to his fore knees. This put Tabilo and his mark above Zenak and Gam. Then a rain of blows from Tabilo began crashing upon Zenak, and coupled with the advantage the enemy mark had on Gam, it was not long before Zenak was thrown from Gam as Gam crashed onto a pile of dead soldiers. Tabilo’s mark bent toward Gam in order to sever Gam’s jugular vein, but Tabilo ordered his mark to rise before Gam could be killed. The mark followed his command quickly and Tabilo bore down on Zenak with his scimitar swinging. Tabilo’s ugly face was full of evil laughter as he saw Zenak’s end. But Zenak was too swift for Tabilo and he jumped away from Tabilo’s death stroke as he rode by. Tabilo quickly turned his mark around and rushed Zenak again. His scimitar was spinning over his head faster than a windmill on a windy day. This time, however, Zenak was fully prepared for the charge and stood re­solutely awaiting his enemy. Tabilo steered his mark right at Zenak to keep Zenak guessing on which side Tabilo’s mark would pass. Zenak was not fooled, however, and when Tabilo turned his mark to Zenak’s right side, Zenak was prepared and parried Tabilo’s scimitar with such force that Tabilo was thrown off his war mark. Tabilo, though, was quicker than usual and sprang to his feet. His well-trained mark returned to his side almost as quickly as Tabilo had jumped to his feet. Tabilo jumped back onto his mark and prepared to charge Zenak again when like a flash of lightning Gam struck Tabilo’s war mark. Tabilo was once again thrown from his mark as it fell from a ripped jugular vein. Tabilo stared at his dead mark with a look of surprise, and then he looked with hatred at Gam hovering in victory above the dead mark. Zenak smiled and with his broad­sword waving rushed Tabilo. Tabilo shook his head to clear it, looked at Zenak, flexed his mighty muscles, laughed, and came at Zenak full speed. In an instant they both struck at each other with a resounding clanging of steel that could be heard for karns. At first the two warriors fought a hard fight and neither one could find an opening in the other’s defense. Sometimes Zenak would have the advantage raining strike after strike at Tabilo. But then at other times Tabilo would get the better of Zenak and keep Zenak in a defensive position while he whirled his blade all around Zenak. The heavy broadsword, as the fight progressed, proved too much for the lighter scimitar that was being wielded by a tiring Tabilo, and Tabilo was forced to take a final, defensive stance and wait for a chance to get a way or find a hole in Zenak’s offensive. He could not find that hole, though, for the strikes from Zenak’s broadsword were quick, explosive, and precise. Normally when a warrior fights with a broadsword, he fights with slow, well-aimed blows, usually because the broadsword is so heavy that it cannot be of much use in higher aims at the enemy’s body. But Zenak was not an average warrior and he fought with his broadsword as if it were as light as the foils that the Samuns use. [The foil is used only in Samu because its people are the only ones who have perfected a strong enough metal for the thin light sword.]
    Tabilo had stopped laughing and fear now characterized his face as the lightning blows from Zenak fell upon him like showers of metal. Tabilo was a well-trained fighter and could parry Zenak’s thrusts, but his position was only de­fensive—he knew that he was only delaying the inevitable.
    Zenak, however, was laughing and cursing as his broad­sword kept Tabilo jumping with swift strokes. “Who hired you?” Zenak roared above the clanging metal.
    â€œI cannot tell you the name of my employer,” Tabilo answered as he jumped over a dead warrior.
    â€œSince when is a mercenary loyal to his